Football: A History of the Gridiron Game (The Watts History of Sports)

Gr. 4^-6. Sportswriter Stewart traces the history of this popular game, from its beginnings as a rugbylike competition in England through its evolution in the early 1800s on American college campuses to the big-business professional sport that is played today. He explains how various rules, leagues, and playing styles evolved and recounts the on-field exploits of many of the sport's legendary players. Frequent section headings, photographs, and inset articles help break up the text. Generous appendixes include a time line and lists of Heisman trophy winners, Hall of Fame members, and collegiate and professional champions and statistics. Although only the most rabid fans will devour this from cover to cover, it will make a useful resource for questions about the game. Kay Weisman